Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that Maldives is not a poor country and that it is in fact a wealthy nation.

The former President Nasheed said this while speaking at an MDP Parliamentary campaign event at Raa Inguraidhoo. He said that innovation is currently at MVR 77 billion. He also noted that while each head is worth USD 15,000, and the budget set by Parliament for this year is at MVR 30 billion, Maldives cannot be named as a poor country.

The former President said that MDP’s Parliamentary campaign policy Agenda ‘19 has been composed with the knowledge that Maldives is a fruitful and wealthy nation. He said that Agenda ‘19 has been put together to bring positive changes to Maldives, and with the acknowledgement that there are capable individuals in this country. President Nasheed said therefore that a generally good change can be brought to Maldives through Agenda ‘19.  

He reiterated that Agenda ‘19 seeks to ensure employment opportunities for all citizens of Maldives. As such, he noted that minimum wage and allowance for those seeking employment will be allocated under the agenda for the first time ever in this country. President Nasheed highlighted that these changes will broaden the opportunities for employment for every individual. He said that although current job opportunities are afforded more frequently for foreign workers for lower pay, the implementation of minimum wage will resolve the issue.

As such, President Nasheed reiterated that with the minimum wage, plus the allowances allocated for foreign workers, it would become costlier to employ foreigners. He said that this change will in turn broaden the employment opportunities for Maldivians.